The High Calling...Everyday Conversations About Work, Life and God

TheHighCalling.org is an online magazine founded on the belief that God cares about our daily work.  Their site has a wide range of articles, interviews, devotionals, and inspirational stores. Every day they publish new articles and Bible references to help us discover meaning and significance in our daily work. You can also sign up to receive newsletters and notifications of new resources via email.  You can also comment on posts that you enjoy.

These are just 3 of the items that they offer:

• Daily Reflections—a short Bible study every day by scholar and theologian Mark D. Roberts. (Register and preview this resource in our sidebar.)
• Weekly Calling—summary of best content from the previous week (Register and preview this resource in our sidebar.)
• Quarterly Sermon Notes—each quarter, a new set of three outlines that can be adapted for sermons or bible classes.

Each weekly newsletter includes a new audio message that you can listen to, at least 4 new articles,  including videos, related to that weeks topic, as well as related articles from The HBC Community.

Here are a few samples of the audio messages and videos that you can find on the site as well as in the newsletters. 
Right Idea, Wrong Time?

Play Right Idea, Wrong Time?












Eye On The Ball 

Play Eye on the Ball

You can also find The High Calling on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

I have read through about 6 or so of their articles and enjoyed most of them.  A few of them did not pertain to me or my life, but I didn't expect all of them to either.   We are all different and are going thorough different things in our lives.  A few of the articles really hit home for me with where the Lord is leading me right now.   If you enjoyed these audio and video messages go have a peek at some of the other ones on their website as well as the articles they have there.  Share them with a friend or coworker and it might just give them some encouragement and help them get through their day.  If you watch the videos and read some of the articles, come back and leave me a comment and let me know what you thought.  

I was asked to do this post by Handlebar Publishing.  I was compensated for this review but all opinions are my own. I was not asked to give a positive review, only to post my feelings and opinions. 

K5 Kids...CD Giveaway...2 Winners

As you all know, I am the mom of two kiddos. With a 13 year old and a 7 year old in the house, there is also a lot of music being listened to. I have always tried to make sure my kids listen to "good" music. As you well know, that's not easy today. Our family loves Christian and Southern Gospel music, but it can be hard to find a station that plays those types of music. We are blessed enough to have one in our area but sometimes the signal is not strong enough so we end up having to change the channel or listen to a CD.

Most people think kids don't really pay attention to the lyrics of the music, that they are just listening to the music itself.  Well, I am here to tell you those people are wrong.  I don't want my kids picking up words, that we don't use at home, from music they hear on the radio.

I did a little searching around on the Internet and that's when I found The K5 Kids.  Here is a little bit about them from their website, plus a video.

K5 Presents is a company determined to give parents safe, fun and powerful content that is age appropriate for Kindergarten through 5th grade. K5 Presents has created the “K5 Kids” Cruz, Leylah, Lyric, Nash and Zoe to sing the songs of successful brands in the Christian music industry.

We have had the privilege of being able to listen to and review Vol.1

 and Vol.2. 

(Click on the pictures and it will take you to the website to get a sample of the songs on each CD)

Let me just say that my kids LOVE THEM!!!  These are their new favorite Cd's to listen to in the car.  My seven year old was already singing along the first day because they were songs that he had heard on the radio before.  His favorite song is the 4th song on Vol.2 titled "He Reins". They are all up beat songs that kids will go crazy for. Plus, because they are all Christian songs, you don't have to worry about them hearing a word they don't need to or anything else for that matter.  But, don't worry, you don't have to be a Christian to listen to this music.  And it won't drive mom and dad crazy like some of the other kids music can.

Because my family loved them so much, I would love to share them with you and yours.   I have two CD's to giveaway.  Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.  Because I am shipping, this giveaway will be international.  All you have to do is us the Rafflecopter entry form below. There will be two winners and the giveaway will run for two weeks and end on November 13, 2012.  Now, go enter and Good Luck.

I was given the two CD's listed above for review purposes, as well as two to giveaway.  I was not asked to do a positive review.  All opinions in this review are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday Funday #10....Scarecrows

With the crows outside, on this fall morning, making lots of racket I decided that this weeks Monday Funday needed to be about Scarecrows. Do you think Scarecrows should be scary or cute?  Leave me a comment and let me know.

Scarecrow Amigurumi


Scarecrow and Pumpkins Embroidery Pattern


Scarecrow Embroidery Transfer Pattern


Scarecrow Cookie Pops


Scarecrow Counted Cross Stitch Pattern


Fall Patchwork Quilted Wall Hanging Pattern


Sunflower Scarecrow

Scarecrow Hat Pattern$$


I hope you enjoyed all of these.  Now show me what you are up to and remember your link doesn't have to match my theme.  While you are here grab a button and make sure if you were featured that you grab a brag button. And don't forget to enter my Pattern Giveaway!!

Fall Inspiration and How-To’s with Miracle-Gro® and the #Gardenieres!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Miracle-Gro. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you heard about The Gardenieres?  The Gardenieres are hand-picked green thumbs led by master gardener, William Moss.  They are real-life gardening enthusiasts with real-world experience when it comes to growing things.  The Gardenieres will be covering the country, inspiring people just like you and me to get out and garden.  You can meet them online, in social networks and occasionally, right in your own neighborhood. You can visit The Gardenieres on their website or on the Miracle-Gro Facebook page. You can even find their wonderful videos on YouTube.

I have a rose bush in my yard that kind of came out of no where.  I had a bush planted there years ago and my sweet husband had ran over it with the lawnmower and killed the poor thing.  Well a year or so ago this bush popped up in the same place.  It is a very large bush that tends to go every direction if not properly trimmed.  It is always loaded all summer long with the pretties little roses.  Of course my daughter loves it because it is right outside her window, and she can look out and see it's beauty any time she wants.  I would really like to see if I can get it to put out larger roses and not be so overbearing.  Then I also have two climbing roses.  One is doing great but I have had trouble training it to grow on my trellis.  The other one has always been sickly, no matter what I have done to try to make it stronger.  I think it might be time to move it, but I want to make sure I don't kill it in the process. So, off I went to the Gardenieres website to see if there was any information there that would help. One of their YouTube videos caught my eye as it  was on rose bush pruning and training.

 

 

While watching the video, I learned how to trim the rosebush to get it to grow in the direction that I wanted it to.  I also learned how to train my climbing roses to grow on the trellises that I have.  The most important thing that she talked about, for me, was that Miracle-Gro® has special soil for roses when they are being transplanted.  I then visited Miracle-Gros® Find beauty in the Fall website to find out more about the rose soil.  When you get to the Find beauty in the Fall website they have a wonderful product finder that you can use to find which soil or plant food that you need.

 

This is the soil I need.  It is a complete, ready-to-use mix ideal for growing beautiful roses. Contains bone meal for better blooming and strong root development, plus iron to prevent leaf yellowing.  I have a lot of trouble with leaf yellowing on my bushes.  I will also need help with the root development on that poor little sick bush when I move it.  I think he is just too close to our maple tree and isn't getting enough water and nutrients due to the tree taking it all.

Some of the other great products that Miracle-Gros® has are:

 

Now that I have shared my fall inspirations with you, go like the Miracle-Gro Facebook page, where you can talk to fellow gardeners and share stories about your garden inspirations.

 

 

 

 

Just Like The Leaves......Giveaway

Just like the leaves on the trees, my pattern prices are falling. 

I have decided to lower all of the prices of my patterns.  Some of them have even been cut in half!!  So, if you have been looking at them but thought to yourself "Hmmm... I really like that pattern but it is just a little too high...", go have another look.  You can find the Crochet patterns HERE on the blog, in the Ravelry Shop, on Etsy and in the Craftsy Shop too. The Cross Stitch patterns are HERE on the blog and in the Craftsy Shop. 

Come rake in the savings and see if you can find something you like.  And keep coming back because there will be lots more new patterns coming soon. Plus, go tell all your friends because you know they will want to know too. Oh, and don't worry, they will be staying at this price permanently!!

In order to celebrate the prices falling I am also having a Giveaway!! The winners (2) will get to pick 1 Pattern of their choice. So...What do you have to do to win?  

Mandatory Entries
1. Be a blog follower so you can find out when new patterns come out of course.Leave me a comment letting me know what name you followed with. (Mandatory)
2. Leave a comment on the blog letting me know your email address and what pattern you would like to win. (Just click on the links above to get to the pattern pages)(Mandatory)

Extra Entries
1.Blog about this Giveaway or post a link on your Facebook or Twitter page. (you don't have to do all 3) Then let me know where and leave me the link for it.
2.Like my Facebook Page and leave a comment letting me know that you did with your Facebook name.
3.Add my Etsy Shop to your favorites and leave a comment letting me know that you did so with your Etsy name.
4.Add one of the items in my Etsy Shop to your favorites and leave me a comment letting me know which one it was.


That gives you 6 chances to win.  Make sure you leave 1 comment for each thing you do.  Good luck everyone.  My little helpers will pick 2 winners on November 1, 2012.

Wonderful Goodies

I was trying to visit all of the blogs I follow the other day, when I came across THIS POST from Lisa at In The Boon Docks.  She was having a cleaning and found some wonderful cross stitch goodies and wanted to know if anyone was interested in them.  The first person to comment got the goodies.  Well I just happen to be that lucky person.

This is the picture from her blog. I knew when I saw it that my sweet girl would love to get her hands on all of it.  She has been cross stitching since she was about 6 or 7 (now 13) and does a wonderful job.  I remember when she was 3 or so I would give her a plastic needle and a tiny hoop with a little bit of aida cloth in it and she would sit next to me on the couch and work on her cross stitch while I worked on mine.  She made big stitches and it was too cute.  We still have the master pieces around here somewhere.  I need to frame them and put them in her room.

Anyway, so I get an email a few days later tell me that she has found some more goodies and will add them to the others when she sends them.  This is the envelope it all came in.

Sorry about the bad lighting.  It's a fat little envelope!!

And here are all the goodies that were inside.  A bag to cross stitch a design on, 2 cross stitch goodies (1 is a book mark), 4 lovely crochet hooks, the little bag up in the corner is a crochet hook bag, some cute material, and a wonderful card thanking me for giving her lovelies a new home.  My sweet daughter claimed all of it except 3 of the hooks and the material.  I figured she would though.  

Thank you so much Lisa for sending me all the extra goodies.  My daughter thinks you are one of the most wonderful people in the world!!  Don't you just love making friends through blogs.  All of  the crafty people out here a so kind and thoughtful and eager to share.  If everyone could be like that this world would be a much better place!!

I hope you are all having a wonderful day and week.

Monday Funday #9 Owls

When I think of October one of the things that comes to mind is owls. They are such big, and small, beautiful creatures. So this weeks Monday Funday is all about owls.

Simple and Sweet Owl Crochet Pattern


Crochet Owl Purse


Owl Pillow Pattern


Recycled Plastic Bottle Owl


Fall Goody Bag


Sock Owl


Fall Sampler Pattern


Owl Pillow (The pattern would make a cute embroidered piece)

Owl Crochet Set ($)


Now that you have seen what I found, show me what you have been up to.  Your link does not have to match my theme.  While your here, why not grab a button.  Don't forget to get your brag button if you were featured.

Jack O' Lantern Pumpkin Kitchen Set Patterns

My newest set of patterns are up for sale at Etsy, Craftsy, Ravelry and here on the blog.

This newest set is perfect for fall.  It features a Jack O' Lantern Pumpkin and includes a Hot Pad, Towel Holder, Mug Hug, and Round and Square Coasters.  There is also an Afghan Square/Block too. You can purchase them as a set or individually.

Set

Hot Pad

Round Coaster

Mug Hug

Square Coaster

Towel Holder/Topper

Afghan Square/Block